Method of and machine for hardening and straightening rods



E. W. PITTMANV METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR HARDEN'ING AND STRA'IGHTENING RODS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5, I918. 1,346,41 9. Patented July 13, 1920.

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Mal/MM- 1 ATTORNEY E. W.. PITTMAN.

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR HARDENING AND STRAIGHTE'NING RODS. 1,346,419.

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E. W. PITTMAN.

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR HARDENING AND STRAIGHTENING RODS.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.5, 1918.

1,346,419. Patented July 13, 1 920.'

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I 47 /0/ I (3 F g, 7 46 g WITNESSES: I INVENTOR %dx%/%W [rnesf I44 P/77l770/7 W BY ' 7 ATTORNEY I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST W. PITTMAN, OF FLUSI-IING, NEW YORK, ASS IGNOB TO NEW ENGLAND WESTINGHOUSE COMPANY. A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR HARDENING AND STRAIGHTENING RODS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1920.

Application filed January 5, 1918. Serial No. 210,524.

To all whom it may cmwom:

Be it known that I, Ennns'r TV. PITTMAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Flushing, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Methods of and Machines for Hardening and Straightening Rods, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method of and machine for hardening and straightening rods, particularly gun-cleaning rods.

In practice, one form of gun-cleaning rod is made of a straight piece of steel wire about inches in diameter and 30 inches in length. The specifications for these rods require that they shall be made absolutely straight and shall be so temperedthat they will return to their original straight shape after having been bent in an arc of a circle of about 30 inches radius. The object of my invention is to provide a method and machine by which such rods, round bar stock, and similar materials, may be simultaueously straightened and hardened so that they will meet the severe requirements of the specifications. The invention is applicable to tubular structures, and generally to forms generated by the revolution of a surface about an axial line. For conven ience, such structures will be hereinafter referred to generally as rods.

In carrying out my invention, the rods are subjected to pressure and rolled over a surface provided with means for quenching the heat at the proper rate to produce the requisite hardening while they are under pressure. To accomplish this, the rolling surface may be covered with the proper amount of oil during the rolling operation because more or less than the proper amount of oil will not produce the results desired. Accordingly, another object of my invention is to provide a machine in which the film of cooling oil on the rolling table is constantly renewed but is kept at substantially a uniform predetermined depth during the rolling operation. Otherfiuids than oil, and in some instances air or cooling vapors may be used.

Another object of my invention is to provide means, in a machine of this character, for preventing one portion of the rod from chilling and buckling before pressure is applied to it by the rolling device.

The above and other objects and the novel features of my invention'will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the drawings that form a part of this invention and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying this invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the oil tank being shown in section; Fig. 4 is a plan View of the table of the machine; Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the table, plate and associated parts taken on the line VV of Fig. 1, part of the cushion ing means being broken away; Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the table of the machine taken along the line VI-VI of Fig. 4, and Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively fragmental plan and side elevational views of an arrangement for controlling the flow of a cooling fluid, such as oil or air under pressure, to the rod support.

Referring to the drawings, which show one embodiment of my invention, 10designates the stationary table of the machine which is carried by standards 11 braced together to form a suitable rigid structure. 1

The table 10 preferably consists of a heavy casting provided with a smooth, hardened top surface. The upper surface of the table is provided with a transversely extending row of recesses 12 that are separated by ribs 13, the top edges of which are flush with the top surface of the table. the heated rod is first deposited on the table 10, it is positioned 011 the ribs 13 and, since these ribs support the rod at intervals in its length, the tendency of a rod to chill along one side and buckle beforepressure is applied to it will be reduced.

A. drainage passage 1% extends from the bottom of each recess 12 to the under side of the table and a transversely extending series of drainage passages 15 extends from the rolling surface 16 of the table through to the under side thereof. The table 10 is hen have been rolled the proper length of the rollers at the end of the plate which first engages a'rod will be raised and cease to support the weight of that end of the rolling plate, so thatrthis weight will exert pressureon the cleaning rod while it is being' rolled over the rolling surface 16 of the table 10.

The rolling plate 20 has a transversely extending elongated slot 23 therein between one end and 'the pair of rollers 21. This slot extends through the rolling plate 20 from itslupper side to the lower side and the longitudinal walls thereof diverge outwardlyto form a funnel-shape passage for feeding heated rods into the space 24 and directly, upon the ribs 13 of the table 10. Then the heated rods are fed upon the table, the outlet-end of the slot 23 is directly above the row of recesses 12 and ribs 13. On one side of the slot 23, the lower surface of the rolling plate 20 is inclined upwardly, as at 25,;so that, asthe plate is movedtoward the right, viewingFig. 5, it will gradually roll upon a rod ri'supported by the ribs 13 and, thereafter, the adjacent end of the plate 20 will be supported by the rod, moving the latter toward the right and upon the rolling surface 16, as the plate 20 is moved in the same direction, v A suitable cooling and tempering oil is supplied to the rolling surface 16 by a pipe 26 whiehiis supported'on the right end of the rolling plate 20 by brackets 27. The

pipe 26 is provided with a series of perforations 28, in the lowerjsidethereof which feed the oil continuously to the rolling surface 16, 'in advance ofthe plateQO. The pipe26 isconnected to a suitable oil supply byime'ans ofa hose connection 29. 7

"Some of the excess oil fromthe pipe 26 drains from the rolling surface 16, through thefopening 17, into the oil tank 18, but, in

order to maintainthe film of oil onjthe rolling surface 16 of substantially a predetermined uniform thickness, I employ a wiper 30 of felt or some similar material. The wiper 30 has one edge thereof relatively free and the other end is secured to a wooden block that is resiliently supported by springs 32, in afrecess between the block and theend of'the'rollingplate 20, whereby the springs yieldingly press the wiper 30 against the rolling surface. The wiping deyiee "30 isthus located between the oil-supply pipe 26 and the feed slot 23 so that it will properly,idistribnte the cooling oil-on the rollingsurface16 and remove any excess oil therefrom before the rolling plate 20 rolls the c'leani ng rod on the surface 16.

The wiping device 30 may be so adjusted that it will wipe'ofi' only a certain amount ofthe oiland leave just' suflicient oil for properly cooling and tempering the rod. By means of this arrangement, the supply of cooling oil to the surface--16is-constantly being changed, thus keeping the rolling sur face sufficiently cold, and, by means of. the wiping device,rth e. oil is distributed and the excess oil removed so that only a thin film remains on the rolling surface when a cleaning rod is rolled across it by the rolling plate 20. The excess oil collected by the wiper 30 is discharged through the passages 17 and 15 into the tank below the table.

The mechanism, for reciprocating the rollingplate 2O relativelyto the table 10 con- 7 sists of .a pair of rocker arms 35 having forked ends to receivepins 36 on opposite sides of the rolling plate. The rocker arms 35 are pivoted, at their lower ends on pins 37 carried by the frame that supports the table. A rocking lever 38 is providedwith a handle, at its upper end, is pivoted at its lower end, and is'connected by suitable links 39 to the rocker arms 35. It will be obvious that, when the rocking lever 38 is rocked, the rolling plate 20 will be reciprocated back and forth on the table 10. During the rolling operation, the cleaning rod is'subjected to the action of the'cooling oil while it is held under pressure between the rolling surface 16' of the table 10 and the cooperating surface of the rolling plate 20. After the rolling movement has been repeatedseveral times, the rodis sufficiently chilled to remain straight and the movement of the handle-is then continued toward the right until the cleaning rodpasses through the opening 17 and issubm'erged'in the oil in the tank 18. The tank 18 contains a large amount of cooling oil that is kept in circulation through a suitable cooling system andfrom the" same system, a portion of the oil is passed into the oilipipe 26, 'The rolling plate'20 carries a brz' cket-4O to which one end of a rod 41 is secured. j Therod 41 passes. through, and extends beyond, a

bracket 42 secured to the table 10. The

position.

In Figs. and 8 I have'illustrated how another cooling mediumsuch compressed airmay beemployed for-quenching the rods while they are being rolled. An air pipe 261 provided withoutlets 281 and supplied with compressed air from some suitable source, is carried by the plateQOl, the parts being arranged similar to the parts 26 and 20 in Figs. 2 and A valve 46 controls the flow of air to the pipe 261 and is normally held to its seat by a stationary cam 47 on the table 101 engaging an antifriction roller L8 on the outer end of the valve stem. The arrangement is such that when the forward end of the rolling plate or carriage 201 is raised by a rod being fed beneath the same, the valve will be openediby the spring 49 and air will be discharged through the openings 281 upon the rolling surface of the table 101.

It will be obvious that power devices may be utilized for operating the rolling plate 20 and that many other changes maybe made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of the machine without departing from the spirit of the invention .and, therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the exact details shown and described.

I claim as my invention:

1. The method of hardening and straightening rods and the like which comprises rolling the rods under pressure between plane surfaced members and simultaneously treating them with a suitable cooling medium.

2. The method of simultaneously hardening and straightening cleaning rods which comprises subjecting the rods to pressure and rolling them over a plane surface covered with a film' of oil while they are under pressure.

3. The method of simultaneously hardening and straightening rods which comprises rolling heated rods under pressure over a surface covered with a film of suitable cooling oil that is constantly renewed and kept at substantially a predetermined depth, and thereafter immersing the rods in cooling oil.

l. In a machine for hardening and straightening rods and the like, the combination with a plane surfaced support for the rods, of means for applying a cooling medium to'said support, and means for rolling the rods relatively to said cooled support and simultaneously applying pressure thereto.

5. In a machine for hardening and straightening cleaning rods, the combination with a supporting table for the rods, of means for maintaining a film of oil on the rod-supporting surface of said table, and means for rolling the rods over the oiled surface of the table and simultaneously applying pressure thereto.

(5. In a machine for hardening and straightening rods and the like, the combination with a support for the rods, of means for continuously supplying oil to the surface of said support, means for removing excess oil from said surface, and means for rolling the rods relatively to said surface and simultaneously exerting pressure thereon.

7. In a machine for hardening and straightening rods, the combination of a table comprising a supporting surface hav ing a plane portion and a portion provided With means adapted to support a heated rod only at intervals in its length to reduce the tendency of the rod to buckle before pres sure is applied thereto, and means for applying pressure to a rod and simultaneously rolling it on the plane portion of the table.

8. In a machine for hardening and straightening rods, the combination with a table comprising a supporting surface having a plane portion and a portion provided with means adapted to support a heated rod only at intervals in its length to reduce the tendency of the rod to buckle before pressure is applied thereto, means for supplying a cooling medium to the surface of the table, means for removing excess cooling medium from the table and means for applying pressure to a rod and simultaneously rolling it on the plane portion of the table. a

9. In a machine for hardening and straightening rods, the combination with a table having a transversely extending series of recesses and also provided with drainage passages having their inlets in the bottoms of said recesses and extending through the table, of means for supplying cooling oil to the surface of said table and means for applying pressure to rods on the table and simultaneously rolling them on the oil-covcred surface of the table.

10. In a machine for hardening and V straightening rods, the combination with a table having a plane supporting surface and a transversely extending opening at one side of said supporting surface, of means for applying pressure to a rod, simultaneously rolling it for a period on said supporting surface, and finally discharging the rod through said opening in the table.

11. In a machine for hardening and straightening rods, the combination with a table, of a rod-rolling plate supported above the table, said plate having a transversely extending slot therein through which rods may be fed into the space between the table and said plate, and means for moving said plate.

12. In a machine for hardening and straightening rods, the combination with a table having a rod-supporting and rolling surface, of a rolling plate supported on the table and having a rolling surface spaced from the rolling and supporting surface of the table, said rolling plate being provided with a transversely extending slot through which 'a heated rod may be fed into the space between the table and the plate, means for supplying oil to the supporting surface of said table, means for operating said plate,

13. In a machine for hardening ant straightening rods, the combination with a table having a rod-supporting surface, of a rolling plate, means for moving the table and rolling plate'relatively to each other, and cushioning means between the table and the plate. 7 a

14. In a machine for hardening and straightening rods, thecombination with table havinga rodrolling surface, of a roll ing plate having a rolling surface opposed to, but spaced from, the rolling surface of said table, thedistance between said rolling surface being lessthan the diameter ofthe rodrto be rolledrbut said table and;platebeing separable to permit the passage of a .rod into the space therebetween, means for'moving said table and plate relatively to each other, and means forsupplying oil tothe space between said table and'said plate;

15. In; a machine for hardening and straightening rods, the combination with a table having atransversely extending series of recesses which are separated by ribs,rof a rolling plate mounted above the tableiand having a'rolling surface spaced from the surface of the table, said rolling platehaving a transversely extending slot provided Withan outlet,normallydirectly above said ribs on the table, means for supplying cooling oil to the rolling surface ofsaid table, means for reciprocating the rolling plate and means, movable by said plate, for distributing the oil and removing excess oil-from the rolling surfaceof the table. 2

16. In a machine for hardening and straightening cleaning rods, the combination with a stationarytable having a transversely extending row of recesses separated by ribswhich are substantially flush with the rolling surface of said table, a rolling plate provided with rollers which support said rolling plate, with itsrolling surface spaced from the rolling surface of the table, the distance between said table and. said plate being less than the diameter ofthe rod to'be treated, means whereby-heated rods may be initially positioned on said ribs so therewill be less tendency for the rods to buckle, means forsupplying cooling oil to therollingsur face of the tabla-means for distributing the oil and removing'the excess thereof before the rod is rolled onto the-rolling surface of said table, and'means forreciprocating said plate.

17. In a machine for vhardening :and

straightening rods, the combination with a support, of meansfor rolling rods ion said support, means for applying a CQOllIlgTl'lfi .:diumto said support, and means for controlling the supply of said cooling medium so that'it will be applied to said support only during the rolling operation. 7

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this fourteenth day of Decembe 1917' V I i V P TTMAN. 

